Dear Youth Leader:

This letter is to a specific leader who felt it was appropriate to reach out to my 18-year-old daughter to save her from her feminist and LGBTQ+ supporting views.

Dear Youth Leader: 

I have read the text messaging conversation between you and my daughter. While I understand that you have the best intentions in contacting her, I feel it is my duty to address this conversation.

To begin, I'm not sure why the Instagram photo on her story caused you such concern. The photo only said, "I was born gay. You were taught religion." How is this a problem? Both of these statements are true. Even the church, speaking of "same-sex attraction," has come around and stated that, ". . . individuals do not choose to have such attractions" (https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/official-statement/same-gender-attraction). So, being born gay is not an opinion. And how can you question being taught religion? How else do we get religion? You HAVE to be taught it. Even the song, "I am a Child of God" supports this. We sing, "Teach me all that I must do. . ." Therefore, I am confused about why you sent the text asking if my daughter actually believes this statement. I do. Don't you?

Now, let's talk about some of your thought processes. You told her that she needs to believe and support the "Proclamation on the Family" because it was given through the prophet. Your judgment of my daughter's statement that she openly disagrees with the proclamation shows your blind faith, which you claim you do not have. My daughter rightly points out that the prophet is a man, and therefore, by definition is fallible. (According to fairmormon.org, "The Church has always taught that its leaders are human and subject to failings as are all mortals.") There are many times throughout the church's history that prophets either changed their own mind, or were corrected by subsequent prophets. That being true, why wouldn't it be acceptable for members of the church to be able to pray and get their own answers for the things the prophets teach? Let's remember that not too long ago the prophets were teaching that Black members of the church were not as worthy as those who were white. It will be sad for you all who accept that members of the LGBTQ+ are sinners when the church finally decides that this group is as acceptable to the Lord as those who are heterosexual. 

Now let's talk about praying to get your own answer. When my daughter told you that she does pray and gets answers to her questions, you disregarded the answers that she receives. Why is it that when YOU pray and get answers, that is more accurate that when she prays? Because her revelations from God do not correlate with yours, or those being touted by the church, they must be "of the devil." How is it not blind faith if any answers you receive, which do not match what the church leaders say, must be disregarded? That is not logical. Sure, we can pray for our own answers, but those answers have to be what the church says, otherwise they are wrong. What's the point of praying, then?

So, your rebuttal to the above logic is that we have been told that the prophet will never lead the church astray. I have already addressed the fact that the prophet has, in the past, lead the church astray and had to be corrected later (usually by another prophet). But let's follow your logic in this argument. You quoted scripture saying, "Whether by my voice or the voice of my servants, it is the same." This quote comes from the Doctrine and Covenants through Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith, who is claiming to be a prophet, is telling us that God is directing us to listen to him because he is the prophet. Have you ever heard of circular reasoning? Here is it: "I know that prophets speak for God because prophets say they speak for God." Not a strong argument.

Here is the biggest thing I want you to think about. You write in your text that you feel attacked by my daughter's arguments. (First, let's just remember that you, an adult, reached out to an 18-year-old girl, without being asked, in order to guilt her into "choosing the right." I'm not sure you can claim that you are being attacked.) But putting that aside, please consider that the feeling you are having is called cognitive dissonance. This is when your brain cannot compute the information you are being given because it refutes your belief system. I know this is difficult when your thought processes are being challenged, but it is how we grow. Try to open your mind to the possibility that other people's ideas and beliefs are just as valid as yours.

Please remember what my daughter pointed out to you. Jesus believes in love and acceptance. He never taught that putting people into hierarchies is of God. You are not better or more valuable to God because you live the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Later-Day Saints. Your job is to love all and let them find their own way through this world.

Sincerely,

Proud Mom